Manoj Kumar | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kumar in 1960 | |
| Born | Harikrishan Giri Goswami (1937-07-24)24 July 1937[1] |
| Died | 4 April 2025(2025-04-04) (aged 87) |
| Other names | Bharat Kumar |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1957–1999 |
| Works | Full list |
| Political party | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | Shashi Goswami |
| Children | 2; includingKunal Goswami |
| Parent(s) | Father: H.L. Goswami, Mother: Krishna Kumari Goswami |
| Relatives | Manish R Goswami (brother) |
| Awards | Full list |
| Honours |
|
Harikrishan Giri Goswami, professionally known asManoj Kumar (24 July 1937 – 4 April 2025), was an Indian actor, director, screenwriter, lyricist and editor who worked inHindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most accomplished actors ofIndian cinema.[3] He is noted for his acting in patriotism-themed films.[4][5] In a career spanning over four decades, he worked in55 films.
Kumar was honoured with thePadma Shri in 1992 andDadasaheb Phalke Award in 2015 by theGovernment of India for his contribution to Indian cinema and arts. He was also the recipient of aNational Film Award and sevenFilmfare Awards.
Kumar was born inAbbottabad, modern-day Pakistan, into aPunjabi Hindu (Saraswat Brahmin) family.[6]
When he was 10, his family migrated from his ancestral villageJandiala Sher Khan to Delhi due to thePartition.[7] He completed aBachelor of Arts degree fromHindu College before pursuing acting. He decided to go by the name Manoj Kumar, inspired byDilip Kumar's eponymous character in the 1949 filmShabnam.[6][8]
After making a début inFashion (1957), followed by minor roles inSahara (1958),Chand (1959) andHoneymoon (1960), Kumar landed his first leading role inKaanch Ki Gudiya (1961).Piya Milan Ki Aas (1961),Suhag Sindoor (1961),Reshmi Roomal (1961) followed, but most of these productions went unnoticed.[9]
His breakthrough came in 1962 withVijay Bhatt'sHariyali Aur Rasta oppositeMala Sinha.[10] The success ofHariyali Aur Rasta was followed byShaadi (1962),Dr. Vidya (1962),Grahasti (1963) andPhoolon Ki Sej (1964), all four of which performed well at the box office.[11] Kumar also found success as the main lead withRaj Khosla'smystery thrillerWoh Kaun Thi? (1964). The film emerged as ablockbuster, featuring songs composed byMadan Mohan, such asLag Jaa Gale andNaina Barse Rimjhim performed byLata Mangeshkar.[12]
The year 1965 marks the start of Kumar's rise to stardom.[13] His first release was patriotic dramaShaheed, based on the life ofBhagat Singh, anIndependence Movement revolutionary.[14] It received highly positive responses from critics as well as the thenPrime Minister of IndiaLal Bahadur Shastri, and was a box office success.[9] In late 1965, Kumar was seen inromantic dramaHimalay Ki God Mein and themystery thrillerGumnaam.[15]
In 1966, he reunited with Khosla forDo Badan alongsideAsha Parekh. This film featured songs by the lyricistShakeel Badayuni, includingRaha Gardishon Mein sung byMohammed Rafi, andLo Aa Gayi Unki Yaad sung by Lata Mangeshkar.> He also appeared inShakti Samanta'sSawan Ki Ghata oppositeSharmila Tagore that year.
After theIndo-Pakistani war of 1965, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri asked him to create a film based on the popular sloganJai Jawan Jai Kissan ("Hail the soldier, hail the farmer").[6][16] The result was his directorial debutUpkar (1967) that opened to critical acclaim and emerged as the third-highest grossing Hindi-language film at the time, behindMughal-E-Azam (1960) andSangam (1964).[17][18] One of the songs from the filmMere Desh Ki Dharti is played often during theRepublic Day andIndependence Day celebrations inIndia.[19]Upkar won Kumar theNational Film Award for Second Best Feature Film as well as his firstFilmfare Best Director Award.[20][21] Among his next few releases in 1967,Patthar Ke Sanam performed well at the box office whileAnita oppositeSadhana received negative reviews.
In 1968, he co-starred withRaaj Kumar andWaheeda Rehman inNeel Kamal. Later, he reunited with Rehman forAadmi withDilip Kumar as the leading man.[22]Neel Kamal proved to be a blockbuster, becoming the third highest-grossing film of 1968.[9]Aadmi was also a box office success.[23]
Kumar's only release in 1969 was the adaptation of Mohan Sehgal'sHappy Go Lovely (1951) calledSajan opposite Asha Parekh.[24] The film was ranked tenth among the highest-grossing films of that year.[25]
Kumar appeared next inPurab Aur Paschim (1970) which gained recognition both in India and overseas.[26] The film secured aUnited Kingdom release in 1971, and ran for over 50 weeks in London, earning £285,000, equivalent to₹2.5 million (US$332,252.41), surpassing the UK box office record ofDo Raaste which released in the UK in 1969.Purab Aur Paschim held this record for 23 years, until the 1994 release ofHum Aapke Hain Kaun.[27] His other releases in 1970 includedYaadgaar andPehchan, both of which were box office successes.[28][29] The same year, Kumar played a supporting role inRaj Kapoor'sMera Naam Joker which becamecult-classic despite not performing well at the time of release.>[30][31]
In 1971, Kumar starred inBalidaan which received a lukewarm response.The following year, he appeared in Sohanlal Kanwar'sBe-Imaan for which he received his first and onlyFilmfare Award for Best Actor.He also directed and acted inShor.[32][33] One of the songs featured in the filmEk Pyar Ka Nagma Hai, aLata Mangeshkar-Mukesh duet composed byLaxmikant–Pyarelal, was listed at #29 in theBinaca Geetmala annual list 1972.[34]Shor won theFilmfare Award for Best Editing.[35]
In mid-1970s, Kumar delivered three blockbusters in a row starting with thesocial dramaRoti Kapada Aur Makaan which he also directed.[36] Released on 18 October 1974, the film ensemble cast includedShashi Kapoor,Amitabh Bachchan,Zeenat Aman andMoushmi Chatterjee.[37] The film's album, composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal, became the fifth best-selling Hindi-language film album of the 1970s.[38]
In 1975, Kumar reunited with Sohanlal Kanwar forSanyasi which emerged as a blockbuster, ranking third at the box office that year.[39] For his portrayal of a religious-minded young man in the film, he received his fourth and final nomination forFilmfare Award for Best Actor.[40] He later appeared in the 1976action-crime filmDus Numbri.
In 1977, Kumar had two releases, the much delayedAmaanat andShirdi Ke Sai Baba. After a year-long break, he starred in aPunjabi filmJat Punjabi. Kumar directed and appeared in the 1981 historical dramaKranti alongside Dilip Kumar,Hema Malini, Shashi Kapoor,Parveen Babi andShatrughan Sinha.[41]
AfterKranti, Kumar's career began to decline, as his subsequent appearances inKalyug Aur Ramayan (1987),Santosh (1989),Clerk (1989) andDeshwasi (1991) failed to garner attention at the box office.[42] He retired from acting after the 1995 filmMaidan-E-Jung.[43] He directed his son,Kunal Goswami, in the 1999 filmJai Hind. The film was a box office failure and the last film Kumar worked on.[44] At the44th Filmfare Awards that year, he was honoured with theLifetime Achievement Award for his career in film spanning over 40 years.[45]
Similarly to otherBollywood stars, Kumar decided to enter politics following his retirement. Before the2004 Indian general election, he officially joinedBharatiya Janata Party.[46]
Kumar was admitted toKokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital inMumbai, where he died on 4 April 2025 at the age of 87 due to chronic heart-related complications. The secondary cause of death was decompensatedliver cirrhosis, according to the medical certificate issued by the hospital.[47][48]
TheGovernment of Maharashtra approved his cremation with state honours at the Pawan Hans crematorium the next day.[49] In a letter addressed to Kumar's wife, Shashi Goswami, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi recalled his experience meeting with the actor and praised his contribution to the Indian cinema.[50] PresidentDroupadi Murmu, expressing her condolences, said, "Kumar left an indelible mark on Indian cinema with his patriotic films, which promoted pride in India’s values and contributions. The iconic roles he played—whether as national heroes, farmers, or soldiers—will always be remembered. His work will continue to inspire generations."[51] On 12 April 2025, his ashes were immersed in theGanges atHaridwar,Uttarakhand by his sons Vishal and Kunal.[52]
As of 2025, Manoj Kumar is the second most successfulBollywood actor of all time, afterDilip Kumar, with over 56% box-office successes and numerous gross records. Many of the films he directed includingUpkar (1967),Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974) andKranti (1981) sold around 40–50 million tickets in India alone.[9]
In 2022, he featured inOutlook India's "75 Best Bollywood Actors" list.[53]
Kumar's signature move of covering his face with one hand has been referenced in numerous popular culture contexts. In 2007, theShah Rukh Khan'sOm Shanti Om featured the lead character pretending to be Manoj Kumar, so as to sneak into a movie premiere, by holding his hand over his face. Kumar, displeased by the caricature, filed a lawsuit which was settled out of court.[54]
Kumar was married to Shashi Goswami; the couple met while in college before Kumar turned to acting. Shashi was offered a film role in 1957, but Kumar told her that "only one of them should work in films." As a result, she chose to work in a few radio plays instead. They have two sons, Vishal andKunal.[55]
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